The American Border Leicester Association Quarterly Newsletter

Transcription

1 The American Border Leicester Association Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2006 From The President Happy New Year greetings to you and your family. I hope you are soon entering the most exciting season there is in the sheep business lambing time! Every time I go to the barn it is with eager anticipation and hope that the ewes have started to lamb. It seems the more anxious I get, the slower it is for them to start. Soon is when they look like they re ready to start, but soon is never quick enough! North American International Livestock Exposition The Open Border Leicester Show was held on Wednesday, November The Judge was Burk Lattimore from Levelland, Texas. The Border Leicester Show was a strong show with 8 different exhibitors, showing 61 head and 5 flocks was a record setter as far as the Border Leicester breed goes, as we registered and transferred more animals than ever before! 713 Border Leicesters were registered and 402 were transferred through the records of the American Border Leicester Association. New memberships are increasing and more sheep breeders are looking (Continued on page 10) Diana Anson with her Champion Border Leicester Ram Inside: NAILE Open Show Results 3 NAILE Jr. Show Results. 7 NAILE Wool Show Results. 7 Annual Meeting Minutes. 7 NE State Fair Results.. 9 Value Added Producer Grants. 10 SD State Fair Results. 11 Cornell Sheep Symposium 12 ALB 2006 Grant. 14 Wrister Pattern. 15 Tips Corner.. 15 ABLA Membership Form Grand Champion Ewe owned by the Deakin Family Farm

2 ABLA Directors Greg Deakin (2006), President P.O. Box 500 Cuba, IL ads.banner.sybertech.net. Greta Dise (2005), Vice President Pleasant Valley Road Glen Rock, PA Sue Johnson (2005), Treasurer 578 Baldwin Road Hinesburg, VT Cynthia Coe (2006) 6726 Highway 312 Billings, MT Polly Hopkins (2007) 494 Evans Road Chepachet, RI Jon Tecker (2005) P.O. Box 548 Parks, NE Krystine Schrom (2007) 683 Bangall Amenia Road Amenia, NY Secretary Appointed by Board of Directors Di Waibel P.O. Box 947 Canby, OR Letter From the Editor Greetings Everyone. When the call came up for a new newsletter editor, I felt that I was up to a new challenge so decided to give this job a try. At work, we put out a monthly newsletter. It is usually a 2-3 page newsletter. The staff puts together articles, formats the newsletter, makes the copies and mails it out. A 2-3 day job at the most. We don t use any formal desktop publishing software, just Microsoft word and lots of clip art. With this in mind, I thought how hard could putting together some articles, ads and show results be for ABLA? I have Microsoft Word at home. It has templates. Like Nike says, Just Do It. Well do I have a lot to learn! It is a whole new world out there..doc files,.pdf files,. tiff files,.jpeg,.bitmap. Have the printer put the newsletter into a.pdf file to be loaded onto the website. Nancy and Sue are right on the cutting edge of desktop publishing. They leave big shoes to fill. Have patience with me as I learn the world of desktop publishing. First I had to find a printer that had the ability to print a newsletter that is the same quality as the newsletters that Nancy and Sue have been publishing. I found that I really did need to invest in and learn a desktop publishing program. This first newsletter may be very simple compared to Nancy and Sue s newsletter. But the goal is to publish a newsletter that will reach our members with pertinent information in a timely fashion no matter what the format! I do live about 20 minutes from Cornell University. Cornell has been active in promoting the sheep and goat industry in NYS. You will see timely information that is available from Cornell in this newsletter and future newsletters. As this newsletter comes out, we will be right in the middle of lambing. It is always eagerly awaited. Hopefully your barns are warm and dry and all of your ewes have easy lambings. If anyone has any comments, suggestions or articles for future newsletters feel free to call or e mail. - Noreen Atkins Newsletter Editor Noreen Atkins 1327 Spring Street Ext. Groton, NY ginlipfarm@yahoo.com 2

3 Continued from page 1 Open Border Leicester Show Exhibitors included: Diana Anson from Simpsonville, KY Deakin Family Farms from Cuba, IL Tiffany Deakin from Cuba, IL Jon and Ginni Dodd from Woodbury, CT John and Brigitte Guffy from Wandering from Wandering Ewe Farm, Hodgenville, KY Kelly Mansfield from Kearneysville, WV Overlook Manor from Warrenton, VA Lili Weik from Warrenton, VA Yearling Ram 1. Anson N - Anson, Diana 2. Hopkins CCH N - Deakin Family Farms 3. Weik /16/200 Weik, Lili 4. Spring Breeze /3/2004 Mansfield, Kelly 5. Deakin Rolex /31/2004 Overlook Manor Farm Fall Ram Lamb 1. OMF Overlook Manor Farm Early Ram Lamb Overlook Manor Farm 2. Deakin 1087 RR Deakin Family Farms Overlook Manor Farm 4. Guffey N - Guffey, John & Brigitte, Wandering Ewe Farm 5. Deakin Deakin Family Farms 6. Guffey N - Guffey, John & Brigitte, Wandering Ewe Farm 1st Place Flock - Diana Anson Intermediate Ram Lamb 1. Anson N - Anson, Diana Overlook Manor Farm Overlook Manor Farm Late Ram Lamb 1. Anson N - Anson, Diana 2. Spring Breeze Mansfield, Kelly Overlook Manor Farm Overlook Manor Farm 5. Deakin Deakin Family Farms 6. Deakin Deakin, Tiffany Pair Ram Lambs 1. Overlook Manor Farm 2. Anson, Diana 3. Deakin Family Farms 4. Guffey, John & Brigitte, Wandering Ewe Farm 2nd Place Flock & Premier Exhibitor - Deakin Family Farms (Continued on page 4) 3

4 (Continued from page 3) Grand Champion Ram Anson N - Anson, Diana Reserve Grand Champion Ram Hopkins CCH N - Deakin Family Farms Yearling Ewes Early 1. Deakin Deakin Family Farms 2. Anson N - Anson, Diana 3. Deakin Deakin Family Farms 4. Deakin Deakin, Tiffany 5. Evening Star Farm Dodd, Jon / Ginni 6. Anson N - Anson, Diana 7. Evening Star Farm B - Dodd, Jon / Ginni Yearling Ewes Late 1. Weik F - Mansfield, Kelly 2. Deakin Deakin Family Farms 3. Weik OMF Overlook Manor Farm 4. Deakin Deakin, Tiffany 5. Weik Overlook Manor 6. Weik Mansfield, Kelly 3rd Place Flock - Overlook Manor Farm Pair Yearling Ewes 1. Deakin Family Farms 2. Anson, Diana 3. Overlook Manor Farm 4. Deakin, Tiffany 5. Mansfield, Kelly 6. Dodd, Jon / Ginni Early Ewe Lambs 1. Deakin Deakin Family Farms 2. Guffey N - Guffey, John & Brigitte, Wandering Ewe Farm 3. Deakin Deakin Family Farms 4. Ginlip LI Deakin, Tiffany 5. Guffey NF - Guffey, John & Brigitte, Wandering Ewe Farm Intermediate Ewe Lamb 1. AJs Flock N - Deakin Family Farms Overlook Manor Farm 3. Anson N - Anson, Diana 4. Deakin Deakin Family Farms 5. Anson N - Anson, Diana 6. Spring Breeze F - Mansfield, Kelly 7. Deakin Deakin Family Farms 8. Deakin Snoball Deakin, Tiffany Overlook Manor Farm Late Ewe Lambs 1. Deakin Deakin Family Farms Overlook Manor Farm 4th Place Flock - Kelly Mansfield 5th Place Flock - Tiffany Deakin (Continued on page 5) 4

5 (Continued from page 4) Overlook Manor 4. Spring Breeze F - Mansfield, Kelly 5. Raffle Prize II Deakin Deakin Family Farms Pair Ewe Lambs 1. Anson, Diana - 2. Deakin Family Farms 3. Overlook Manor Farm 4. Guffey, John & Brigitte, Wandering Ewe Farm 5. Mansfield, Kelly 6. Deakin, Tiffany Grand Champion Ewe Deakin Deakin Family Farms Reserve Grand Champion Ewe Anson N - Anson, Diana Best Fleece 1. Mansfield, Kelly 2. Dodd, Jon / Ginni 3. Anson, Diana 4. Overlook Manor Farm 5. Deakin Family Farms 6. Deakin, Tiffany 7. Overlook Manor Farm Slick Sheared Lamb 1. Deakin Deakin Family Farms Weik, Lili 3. Deakin Deakin Family Farms Overlook Manor Farm Weik, Lili Overlook Manor Farm Get-Of-Sire 1. Anson, Diana 2. Overlook Manor Farm 3. Deakin Family Farms Flock 1. Anson, Diana 2. Deakin Family Farms 3. Overlook Manor 4. Mansfield, Kelly 5. Deakin, Tiffany Premier Exhibitor Deakin Family Farms Best Headed Ram Overlook Manor Farm Best Headed Ewe Weik F - Mansfield, Kelly 5

6 The Junior Border Leicester Show was held on Tuesday, November22, The Judge was Doris Powell from Rome, PA. Two Junior Exhibitors, Tiffany Deakin from Cuba, IL, and Ashley Jones from Lexington, KY competed. Junior Ram Lamb Place Animal Name Owner 1 Jones 509 Henry III Ashley Jones 2 Jones CVF 515 Sharr Ashley Jones 3 Deakin Tiffany Deakin Grand Champion Ram 1 Jones 509 Henry III Ashley Jones Reserve Champion Ram 1 Jones CVF 515 Sharr Ashley Jones Yearling Ewe 1 Deakin Tiffany Deakin 2 Cumberland CVF Lass Ashley Jones 3 Deakin Ashley Jones 4 Deakin 1058 Tiffany Deakin Junior Ewe Lamb 1 Deakin Snoball Tiffany Deakin 2 Jones 504 Emma Ashley Jones 3 Ginlip LI 501 Tiffany Deakin 4 Jones CVF 502 Charm Ashley Jones Champion Ram - Ashley Jones Grand Champion Ewe 1 Deakin Tiffany Deakin Reserve Grand Champion Ewe 1 Deakin Snoball Tiffany Deakin Best Fleece 1 Deakin Snoball Tiffany Deakin Junior Showmanship Senior Showmanship Tiffany Deakin Ashley Jones Reserve Champion Ram Ashley Jones Grand Champion Ewe - Tiffany Deakin Reserve Champion Ewe & Best Fleece Tiffany Deakin Champion Ewe Class 6

7 Cape House Farm Border Leicester Sheep! Premier Breeder in 2005 with our Black Border Leicesters at both Maryland and the Michigan State Fair We will have a few Black Yearling Ewes available in May at Maryland nd we look for a quality lamb crop, colored and white Give us a call! Linda and Bill Koeppel (734) koeppels@peoplepc.com Naile Wool Show Results Border Leicester Ram 1. Deakin Family Farm - Cuba, IL 2. Carol Ross - Bargersville, IN 3. Overlook Manor - Warrenton, VA 4. Overlook Manor - Warrenton, VA Border Leicester Ewe 1. Phantasy Farm - Edgewood, NM 2. Overlook Manor- Warrenton, VA 3. Deakin Family Farm - Cuba, IL 4. Overlook Manor - Warrenton, VA ABLA Board of Director Annual Elections Three Board positions will be opening up this year. The Association is looking for members who would like to step up and serve. Please consider being part of the decision making process for this organization. To qualify, you must have been an ABLA member for the past three years, have registered sheep for at least two of those years, and be interested in promoting the breed. Board members serve for three years. The Board meets by telephone via a monthly teleconference at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. If you are interested in serving on the board, please send a short biography of yourself and your Border Leicester experience by mail or e mail to: Di Waibel, Secretary P.O. Box 947 Canby, OR The Biography needs to be received by March 1st. The election results will be announced in May at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. If you are enthusiastic and want to promote Border Leicesters, consider running for a position on the board Annual Meeting Minutes The 31 st Annual Meeting of the American Border Leicester Association was held Wednesday afternoon, November 16, in Louisville, Kentucky. The meeting was held following the Border Leicester Show at the North American International Livestock Exposition. Twenty ABLA members and guests were in attendance. Association President Greg Deakin called the meeting to order and gave the State of the Association address. A treasurer s report was read and a report on the year-todate registrations and transfers was read. The meeting was open to general discussion. Those in attendance discussed having the NAILE host the National Show in evennumbered years and rotate the National Border Leicester Show in the odd-numbered years. A motion was made and seconded to inform the ABLA Board of Directors that the future National Shows should follow those guidelines. Voting passed unanimously. Additional discussion followed about our breed standards. Some felt we should change the standards, placing 65% emphasis on structure, meat and muscling and 35% on wool quality, rather than the 65%/40% ration we have now. A reaction was mixed. An announcement was made that the 2006 Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. The meeting adjourned at 5:32 p.m.

8 Advertising Rates ~~~~~~~~~~~ Display Ads Per Issue Full Page $ /2 Page.$ /4 Page.$25.00 Business Card $ Issues Prepaid 10% Discount Full Page..$ /2 Page $ /4 Page..$90.00 Business Card.$43.20 Photographs For best printing quality, photos should be at least 300 dpi. Use a high resolution setting on your camera. Please include a SASE if you want the photo returned. ~~~~~~~~~~ Classified Ads Per Issue Up to 50 words..$10.00 Up to 75 words..$15.00 Up to 100 Words $20.00 ~~~~~~~~~~ Deadlines for Submission ABLA Membership Renewal Due Membership renewals were due on January 1st. If you see a red dot next to the mailing label on the last page of this newsletter, your dues have not yet been paid. If you have not yet renewed your ABLA membership, this will be the last newsletter you will receive until your dues are paid. 8 Spring Issue...March 15th Summer Issue....June 15th Fall Issue...September 15th Winter Issue..December 15th Non members pay double the above rates. Send ads to: Noreen Atkins ginlipfarm@yahoo.com

9 Nebraska State Fair Results 5 Border Leicester Breeders with 3 flocks competed in the Border Leicester Show at the 2005 Nebraska State Fair. Results are as follows: Yearling Ram: 1st Ronald Krogman, 2nd Archie Murray, 3rd Mina McKinney, 4th Ronald Krogman, 5th Archie Murray, 6th Jim Gall, 7th Jim Gall. Spring Ram Lamb: 1st Ronald Krogman, 2nd Jon Tecker, 3rd Jim Gall, 4th Jim Gall, 5th Ronald Krogman, 6th Ronald Krogman, 7th Mina McKinney, 8th Mina McKinney, 9th Archie Murray. Pair Ram Lambs: 1st J. Gall, 2nd J. Tecker, 3rd, M. McKinney, 4th R. Krogman. Champion Ram was the yearling ram owned by Ronald Krogman and the Reserve Champion Ram went to Archie Murray s yearling ram. Yearling Ewes: 1st A. Murray, 2nd M. McKinney, 3rd, M. McKinney, 4th, A. Murray, 5th J. Gall, 6th J. Gall, 7th J. Tecker, 8th J. Tecker. Pair of Yearling Ewes: 1st A. Murray, 2nd M. McKinney, 3rd J. Gall, 4th J. Tecker, 5th R. Krogman. Spring Ewe Lamb: 1st M. McKinney, 2nd R. Krogman, 3rd J. Tecker, 4th R. Krogman, 5th J. Tecker, 6th J. Gall, 7th A. Murray. Pair of Ewe Lambs 1st J. Tecker, 2nd R. Krogman Champion Ewe was the yearling ewe owned by Archie Murray and the Reserve Champion Ewe went to the Mina McKinney s spring ewe lamb. Mixed Pair: 1st R. Krogman, 2nd J. Tecker, 3rd, J. Gall, 4th A. Murray Pen of 4: 1st R. Krogman, 2nd J. Tecker, 3rd J. Gall Young Flock: 1st R. Krogman, 2nd J. Tecker, 3rd J. Gall Breeders Flock: 1st R. Krogman, 2nd J. Tecker, 3rd J. Gall. 9

10 (Continued from page 1) at Border Leicesters to start raising or to add to their flock as a second breed. The Border Leicester disposition is unmatched and their wool quality is a favorite in the spinning world. Your board worked hard in 2005 to strengthen our organization and we are already working on ways to promote growth in the breed and to increase public awareness about Border Leicesters. Financially we are stronger than ever before and we are working on ways to promote and publicize our breed in We are increasing our activities in the breed and here are some of the highlights planned so far in 2006: The 2006 Annual Meeting will be held at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival in May. Details about when, where and the time will be announced well before the meeting with a desire to get one of the biggest gatherings of Border Leicester breeders ever together. Several state fairs are adding Border Leicester classes to their shows as the demand from exhibitors is increasing. Plans for a big Eastern Regional Show at The Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts in September are coming along great. The Big E is offering separate classes for both White and Black Border Leicesters as well as group and flock classes for both. The nearly $3400 in premiums for the Border Leicester breed will be more than ever offered by any other show in the country. More details about the Eastern Regional will follow. In October Border Leicesters will be the featured breed at the New York Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY. That event has brown by leaps and bounds and now has over 100 more vendors than at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. Border Leicester wool is abundant and if you want to sell your wool or make great contacts, go to the New York Bred Ewe Sale. We will end the year with our National Show in conjunction with the NAILE in Louisville, Kentucky. We have gained excellent exposure and prestige in the eyes of Need to Contact Associated Sheep Registry? Telephone (641) Fax: (641) kclaghorn@earthlink.net Value Added Producer Grants The USDA Agency, Rural Development announces that the Annual Notice of Solicitation of Applications for the 2006 funding cycle was published on December 21, Applications for Value-Added Producer Grants are being accepted until March 31, These grants may be used for planning activities and working capital for marketing value-added agricultural products and for farm based renewable energy. Eligible applicants are independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, agricultural producer groups, and majority-controlled producer based business ventures. Applicants must provide matching funds. Detailed information about this program can be found at the USDA Rural Development Website at and search under Business and Cooperative Programs. Contact your State Rural Development Office for more information and a grant Application. The office and contact person is also listed on the Rural Development website. Karey Claghorn Associated Sheep Registry rd Avenue Milo, IA

11 South Dakota State Fair Results Four Exhibitors showed at the South Dakota State Fair. Border Leicesters has to show in the AOB class, but were the only breed exhibited in the AOB Class. In 2006, Border Leicesters should have their own show. The Judge was Dave Pearson of Hettinger, North Dakota. Results of the 2005 show are as follows: Yearling Ram: 1st Archie Murray, 2nd Ronald Krogman, 3rd Mina McKinney, 4th Archie Murray, 5th Ronald Krogman February Ram Lambs: 1st Lindy Krogman, 2nd Ronald Krogman, 3rd Mina McKinney, 4th Lindy Krogman 5th Archie Murray, 6th Ronald Krogman, 7th Mina McKinney Pair of Ram Lambs: 1st Lindy Krogman, 2nd Ronald and Janet Krogman, 3rd Mina McKinney Champion Ram: Yearling ram owned by Archie Murray. The Reserve Champion Ram went to the Ronald Krogman s yearling ram. Yearling Ewe: 1st A. Murray, 2nd M. McKinney, 3rd M. McKinney, 4th A. Murray, 5th R. Krogman, 6th L. Krogman, 7th R. Krogman, 8th L. Krogman. Pair of Yearling Ewes: 1st A. Murray, 2nd M. McKinney, 3rd R. Krogman, 4th L. Krogman February Ewe Lambs: 1st R. Krogman, 2nd M. McKinney, 3rd R. Krogman, 4th L. Krogman, 5th L. Krogman, 6th A. Murray. Pair of Ewe Lambs: 1st R. Krogman, 2nd L. Krogman. Champion Ewe: Yearling ram owned by Archie Murray. The Reserve Champion ewe went to the yearling ewe owned by Mina McKinney. Mixed Pair of Lambs: 1st R. Krogman, 2nd L. Krogman Pen of 4: 1st, R. Krogman, 2nd L. Krogman Young Flock: 1st R. Krogman, 2nd L. Krogman Breeders Flock: 1st R. Krogman, 2nd L. Krogman Best Fleece: 1st A. Murray, 2nd, M. McKinney, 3rd L. Krogman, 4th R. Krogman Congratulations to the Nebraska and South Dakota Breeders for having such strong shows at both the Nebraska and South Dakota State Fairs! 11

12 2005 Cornell Sheep and Goat Symposium On October 28, and October 29, Cornell University held the annual Sheep and Goat Symposium. This symposium is always action packed and targeted to both beginner and experienced shepherds. This year the topics and speakers were excellent. The opening speaker was Mr. Paul Paulsen, who is the General Manager of Vermont Quality Meats. He discussed how this marketing coop grew from an informal kitchen table coop, to a large coop with a full time manager, warehouse, and other assets, that delivers lamb and kid to high quality restaurants in New England, Hudson Valley and NYC. For those of you in the northern New York - Eastern New England area, this coop is actively seeking new members. Dr. Mary Smith, a Cornell large animal veterinarian that specializes in sheep and goats held 2 discussions. The first was on managing kidding and lambing. Some of the high points of this first topic included nutrition prior to lambing, common lambing dystocias and how to correct them, and after lambing care. For example, did you know that if you see a lamb being born and there is meconium in the water bag, that the lamb has been stressed during the birthing process and you need to act immediately to get that lamb out of the ewe, and breathing. The second discussion was about field necropsies. 2 lambs, a 2 day old lamb that had died and a 10 month lamb that was not growing well were autopsied. It turns out that the 2 day old lamb was laid on by its mother. The 10 month old lamb had widespread intestinal scarring from coccidiosis. The amount of nutrient absorption from the intestines was minimal and the lamb never grew well. At 10 months of age it weighed 22 lbs. To review some of the slides on dystocias and lamb care, go to sheep/index.html. This is the Cornell Sheep Program website. Once at the site, go to the links drop down menu. Choose the health link. Then select csp health site. Choose slides from AS 380 lecture by Dr. Mary Smith. Dr Doug Hogue held a discussion on small ruminant nutrition. Rather then looking at nutrition as Total Digestible Nutrients, Percent Protein, and Mega cals of energy, Dr. Hogue discussed the percent digestibility of the diet (ddm), and the feed components as protein, indigestible neutral detergent fiber, and the 2 types of digestible fibers: fermentable neutral detergent fiber (fndf) and non structural carbohydrates (nfc). The closer a ewe is to lambing, the more fndf and nfc are needed in the ration. There is a limit to nfc that should be fed as too much can cause acidosis and depress appetite. Conversely, the more fndf in a ration, the more ddm intake, and nutrient use. This can result in ewe s increasing milk production, maintaining condition during lactation, and less feed needs during normal maintenance. Dr. Mike Thonney took this concept one step further and 12 presented a program that is based on Dr. Hogue s concepts to calculate rations and the cost of those rations. This program is called feedform. This program is free to individuals. It is run on the latest version of Microsoft access. To download this program go to index.html. Go to the links drop down menu. Choose CSP software to reach and download the feedform program. Tim Willsallen talked about his results with intensive pasture management and the use of turnips in his pasture rotation. He will fall seed turnips the year before he establishes a new seeding in a paddock. The turnips provide two sources of feed. The tops will freeze with the nutrients intact. They provide winter graze. As the spring approaches and the ground thaws, the sheep will dig up the turnips to graze on. Due to time constraints, I was not able to attend the second day of the symposium. Other topics that were covered included: Lamb and kid carcass evaluations, soap and cheese making demonstrations, a new type of international sheep to shawl contest, genetic evaluations for small ruminants, coping with internal parasites, meat processing and labeling, a panel discussion of heard health and nutrition management, and a tour and discussion of the management and research at the Cornell Sheep Farm. This is definitely a symposium that is worth attending if you are in the northeast area of the US. - Noreen Atkins

13 Cornell University to hold Shearing Schools Cornell University announces that two Sheep Shearing Schools will be held in March. Due to the demand from previous years, an additional shearing course has been scheduled. The beginner school is set for March 9&10, This school is designed for new and beginning shearers or those shearing 20 head or less per day. The higher level course or for those shearing over 20 head per day is set for March 11 & 12, This level also includes professional shearers. Both Sheep Shearing Schools will be held at the T & R Center in Dryden, NY. Instruction will include shearing pattern, blade sharpening techniques, physical fitness, handpiece maintenance and more. The instructor is Doug Rathke from Minnesota. Rathke is one of the top shearers in the United States and has had extensive training from the New Zealand Wools. Rathke is skilled at both machine and blade shearing. The registration cost is $110 per person. Deadline for registration is February 20, If you are unable to attend the shearing school, but are still interested in learning more about sheep shearing, an instructional video tape or DVD is available. This 90-minute how-to video is filled with useful tips and information on shearing. The cost of the video or DVD is $44.95 and may be obtained at the address below. To register for either the sheep shearing school or to purchase the video or DVD send your name, mailing address, phone number and a check or money order in US funds made payable to Doug Rathke and mail to Doug Rathke, MN Hwy 7, Hutchinson, MN Call (320) if you have any questions. Editors note: My daughter, Erin & I attended one of the earlier beginning shearer schools. The information on shearing, clipper care and changing blades has been extremely valuable. 13

14 The American Lamb Board Announces the 2006 matching Grant Program The American Lamb board is now soliciting 2006 Matching Grant Program proposals. The new application is available at 222.amercianlamb.com or by calling Rae Maestras at (866) According to ALB Chairman Spence Rule, the ALB developed the Matching Grant Program to expand their marketing and promotions activities by creating collaborative partnerships with industry organizations. The projects that have been funded in 2005 have expanded ALBs efforts to educate consumers, retailers, and chefs at the local level. A total of $40,000 is budgeted for 2006 grant funding. The grants require a 1-to-1 cash match from the grant recipient. In-kind contributions are not considered for the matching requirement. Industry organizations are invited to submit proposals that expand or strengthen the market for American Lamb. Creative marketing projects which include a collaborative effort amongst industry organizations and industry sectors are encouraged. Funds received under the grant program must be spent on activities that are permissible under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act and the Lamb Promotion, Research and Information Order. For more information including Grant applications, please call Rae Maestas at the American Lamb Board 9866) 327- LAMB. The deadline for receiving grant applications is February 15, The American Lamb Board (ALB) is a national promotion, research and information organization whose purpose is to strengthen the position of lamb and lamb products in domestic and foreign markets. The 13 member board, appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture, is composed of six producers, three feeders, one seedstock producer, and three first handlers. The work of the Board is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Service. All grants approved by ALB are subject to USDAs review and approval 14

15 Wristers (Pulse Warmers) DK or Worsted weight yarn, 4 - # 4 or #5 needles Cast on 33(child), 36 (small), 39 ( medium), 42 ( large ) stitches.k2, P1 around for 3 ½ (22 30 rows) Transfer last purl stitch on 3 rd needle to 1 st needle, then increase 1 stitch in the first and second stitches, purl one (4 knit stitches), then knit around. Maintain purl stitches as markers, increase 1 stitch each side of thumb gore within markers, once every 3r d round until there are 12 stitches between purl stitches, for thumb. Put the 12 thumbs stitches on a holder. Put purl stitch back on 3rd needle & cast on two stitches over back side of thumb and knit around four more rows. Then, Knit 2, Purl 1 around for 6 rows. Cast off loosely. Pick up thumb stitches onto two needles from holder, 6 stitches each, pick up three stitches over back side of thumb on third needle. Knit around for 4 rows. Knit 2, Purl 1 for 6 rows. Bind off loosely. Weave in yarn ends. Make another. Variations: several different yarn colors for a stripped effect add glitz to ribbing yarn or embroider designs on stockinet areas These are great to wear to the barn under large gloves. They do keep your hands warm if you have to remove your gloves for some reason. There are many variations of these fingerless gloves, from ruffled cuffs to cables and lacey patterns. Size can be adjusted by changing weight of the yarn used or the size of the needles. Enjoy! TIPS CORNER Swat is a topical antibiotic and insecticide that is found in livestock supply stores in the horse section. It works great in cleaning up that fungus that builds up on heels and legs in the winter. 2 applications within a week's time will easily get rid of the fungus If you have any tips that you would be willing to share with other BL breeders, send your tips to Noreen Atkins so it can be inserted in the next newsletter. Fecal Egg Counts As a follow up to the articles on using the Famacha Guide, and New Tools in Parasite Management for Goats and Sheep, Langston University has an on-line slide show that is a step by step method of how to complete your own fecal egg counts. You can work with your local vet to develop the mixing solution and purchase the McMaster slides. You can reach this website from the csp health link on the Cornell Sheep Program website. Thanks to Barbara Thompson for sharing this pattern. 15

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17 American Border Leicester Association Membership Application The American Border Leicester Association was founded in 1973 to promote and register Border Leicester sheep in the United States and Canada. Both white and natural colored Border Leicesters are eligible for registry with the ABLA. Our association is experiencing some exciting growth, both in membership and numbers of sheep registered. We invite you to join us! We provide the opportunity for our members to promote themselves and their farm products through our Member Directory. Please provide the information that you d like included with your listing. Our membership year runs from January 1st to December 31st. For more information about Border Leicesters and the American Border Leices- New Member Renewal Annual membership $20.00 Individual or family Junior Membership $ years and under Name: Farm/Ranch Name: Street Address: City/State/Zip: Phone: Web Address: What farm products would you like listed in the directory? Any other comments about your operation or specialty? In addition to Border Leicesters, what other breeds of sheep or animals do you raise? Do you run a commercial operation using Border Leicester sires? Helpful information, but not included in the directory: Total flock size: Number of white Border Leicesters... Ewes: Number of colored Border Leicesters... Ewes: Rams: Rams: Please send this form, along with your check made out to ABLA, to: Sue Johnson, ABLA Treasurer 578 Baldwin Road Hinesburg, VT Questions? Any articles you d like to see in the newsletter or any issues you d like the Board to address? 17

18 American Border Leicester Association Newsletter Editor 1327 Spring Street Ext. Groton, NY ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Dates to Remember January 21, National Western Sheep Show Denver Colorado February 3 - Lambing Time Short Course Minnesota West Community College, Pipestone MN, (800) February 11 - Indian Head Sheep Breeders Shepherd's Clinic, WITC Conference Center, Rice Lake WI, (715) February 15, Submission deadline for the Spring issue of The ABLA Quarterly News March 1, Bios needed from members willing to run for the ABLA board April, Entry Deadline for the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival May 6 & 7, Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival 18